The passion against health care reform has elevated to such a level that protesters* on Tuesday mocked an apparent Parkinson’s Disease victim, scorning him as a “communist” who is looking for “handouts.”
It’s appalling by any standard – wouldn’t you agree? Is it a “family value” to viciously mock the infirm – the weakest of us? Is it a characteristic of a “good Christian?” Certainly not. And yet there it is on film. Beyond me, but there it is.
If, as I suspect, extreme right-wing rhetoric is producing this type of activity, this type of vengeful behavior, we (we being human beings, not members of any political party) should act against those who promote it as best we can.
In 2009 Mr. Limbaugh, for example, said he’d like to see President Obama fail. That sort of Anti-American attitude is in no way beneficial to anyone, conservatives, liberals – no one. But Limbaugh doesn’t care; he’s got what he wants: people are still tuning in, feeding the spread of hate with their own personal allotment of advertising dollars.
Stop tuning in, even for the drama, the inaccuracy, the “entertainment.” Ratings lead to advertising dollars, no matter the reason people are watching. Contact advertisers and express your dissatisfaction with their divisive and offensive ideas, particular if you are a moderate conservative.
Even conservative politicians and Republican Party organizers are afraid to lash out due to the power of this divisive, hate-filled media rhetoric – afraid of being labeled a closeted liberal, a socialist, or just not a “real” conservative and given the boot…even if they know this type of media is ultimately a vile, vile creature, beneficial to no one.
Liberals share blame, to a lesser extent, for giving these talking heads the time of day (yes, I’m doing it right now, but no one pays attention to me). John Stewart, the love of my life, puts these fools in the limelight Monday through Thursday; he hilariously makes them out to be buffoons on his comedy show, no doubt, but as the old saying goes even negative publicity is good publicity. Is he serving to enlighten us or, ultimately, is his commentary, by way of sheer exposure, doing more of a disservice to the moderates among us than helping?
Conservatives – extreme right-wing rhetoric is your monster – you’ve fed it and coddled it, and seen it grow larger and more powerful and now, like the tiger in the suburban backyard, it’s not cute or entertaining anymore. It’s scary and it is hurting people. It’s your responsibility to cut back on its financial nourishment and let it wither into the uninteresting sideshow that it really is. Our country, our children, will all be better off in the long run.
*And on a side note to that video, how many of the elderly in that video would have a conniption fit if their “socialized” Medicare benefits were taken away. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, no?
The Runaway Lawyer 